Chapter 771 Ming-style enjoyment (third update, please subscribe)
If you were asked what the hottest topic in New York was in June 1875?
The answer is definitely "Dianying".
That is the Chinese pinyin transliteration of the movie.
A month ago, the first cinema in the United States, the Universal Cinema, finally opened on Broadway in New York. Although this cinema, which was renovated from an old theater, could accommodate 800 people, it was popular with New Yorkers from the day it opened.
As soon as it opened, it was very popular among New Yorkers. Every day, there were huge crowds of people in front of the cinema, and every New Yorker was proud to see a "movie".
“This is simply a miracle!”
When Americans were amazed at the magic of movies and called them a miracle, Chen Shao certainly also thought it was a miracle.
What a miracle.
Of course it is a miracle of making money.
Although the cinema's daily turnover was only over 200 US dollars, the profit was extremely considerable. After all, the cinema did not need a band or actors, it only needed movie films and a record player.
Chen Shao was undoubtedly lucky. He wanted to open a cinema and was very fortunate to become a partner of Universal Cinemas Company - and the owner of the first cinema in the United States.
Although this cinema was merely rebuilt on the basis of an old theater, it did not prevent it from becoming the most fashionable topic in the whole of New York. Whether they were poor or rich, they all talked about movies and "moving pictures projected on the screen."
"Morgan, are you going to the Globe Theater on Broadway today?"
There was a hint of anticipation in Ketcham's tone. After all, movies were the hottest topic recently.
"I have nothing to do today, so let's go watch a movie."
Morgan smiled and stood up, then walked to the coat rack and took off his hat and said.
"They have been talking about this topic recently. I am actually quite curious about it."
"This is really an amazing invention. Everyone who has seen it says it is a miracle."
Along the way, Ketcham kept repeating the movies he had learned about from newspapers and from others.
But Morgan's curiosity was limited.
Movie?
It's just a play that doesn't require actors to perform live, it's a movable photo, nothing more.
The reason Morgan came here today was just to accompany his friends.
Soon, they arrived at the cinema. It was 6 o'clock in the evening, which was the time for showing feature films. The tickets for feature films were very expensive - a full ten cents. Despite the high price, there was still a long line in front of the cinema.
However, as soon as Morgan and his companions' carriage stopped, someone came forward to open the door for them, and then the guy whispered.
"My two distinguished gentlemen, do you want to watch a movie? The feature film being shown today is "Nanhe Hydropower Station," a full thirty-minute movie! It only costs 15 cents, and you can get a front row center seat."
The difficulty in getting movie tickets has given rise to the industry of ticket scalpers, who can always tell at a glance who will pay a high price for tickets.
Everything is easy with money. After spending thirty cents to buy two movie tickets, Morgan and Ketcham walked into the cinema together. While waiting to enter, Ketcham bought a movie package at the convenience store.
"Coca-Cola and popcorn. This is a standard movie-going experience, Morgan. According to the journalists, this is a movie-going ritual, especially when watching a feature film like this."
"Coca Cola?"
Morgan took the paper cup and felt its coldness and said in surprise.
“It’s actually iced?”
Ice... is very expensive in the summer, but you can actually drink iced Coke here.
“So, this is the ritual!”
Ketcham laughed.
"Look, iced Coca-Cola in a paper cup, popcorn, and a movie, that's life in 1875, a modern lifestyle."
While Ketcham was talking about "modern lifestyle", Morgan became interested in the paper cup in his hand.
“Is it a paper cup?”
"Yes, if you've drunk it, just throw it away."
"It won't leak?"
"It's amazing, isn't it? This little invention comes from the Ming Dynasty. In fact, the principle of this waxed paper cup is very simple. There is a layer of paraffin on the inner wall to prevent water from getting out. Although it can't hold hot water that is too hot, it is perfect for holding frozen cola."
Kcham didn't know that this disposable paper cup was invented by Emperor Zhu, specifically for his film business. After all, the profit of a cinema is not just from movie tickets.
"That's true. Is this paper cup imported from Ming Dynasty?"
"The same goes for the Coke and the movies we watched. All of these are from Daming. Even the boss is from Daming..."
Even though everything came from the Ming Dynasty, people in New York did not have much resistance. After all, people are always curious about new things, and with the propaganda in newspapers, this has long become a lifestyle.
Finally, they entered the cinema and found their seats in the second row according to their ticket numbers. Morgan looked around curiously. It was just a theater with a large white cloth hanging on the stage.
After a few minutes, the lights suddenly went out.
What was going on? Just as he was puzzled, the dark theater suddenly lit up, and then he heard a deafening whistle. Along with the whistle, he heard the sound of a train rolling over the rails, and then a train was actually belching steam and roaring straight towards him.
"ah……"
Morgan screamed and almost rolled off the table and chair, and the same happened to Ketcham.
There were even some people in the theater who rolled to the ground and then crawled out.
They hadn't run a few steps when bursts of laughter rang out all around them.
"Don't worry, don't worry, this is just 'The Arrival of a Train', the beginning of a feature film..."
Putting "The Arrival of a Train" at the beginning of the feature film was a rule specially set by Chen Shao, the purpose of which was to scare those who watched the movie for the first time.
"It's just a shadow, just a shadow..."
Morgan looked at the beam of light above his head, then at the picture on the screen, and he realized that the train was just a shadow on the screen.
"But this sound is really realistic! Just like a real train whistle."
How could it not be realistic?
It was recorded at the train station and played through the loudspeaker, and the next moment, the music started to sound.
"It's the record player."
Although the record player was invented not long ago, it has already entered the American market. In the past few months, the record player has not only been very popular in the American market, but has also been called "one of the greatest inventions" by the American media.
Morgan had a record player at home, so he was very familiar with record players.
As the music played, Morgan saw the picture changing, and what appeared before him was a scene of bustling construction.
Like everyone else, Morgan was extremely absorbed in watching. After all, the scene of the hydroelectric power station construction was extremely grand and spectacular.
The bustling construction scene was undoubtedly very new to the American people. They watched on the screen the process of a hydroelectric power station being built from scratch.
At the end of the movie, with the power turned off, a dark city suddenly became brightly lit.
At this moment, everyone was stunned. It was as if they had seen a miracle - water, the seemingly insignificant water, turned into electricity.
The endless supply of water brings an endless supply of electricity, but what does electricity bring?
It's light!
It's industry!
They saw how the electricity generated by the hydroelectric power station dispelled the darkness and powered the machines in the factory.
Compared to the surprise of many people, Morgan thought more besides being surprised.
"water!"
After leaving the cinema, sitting in the carriage, Morgan said with some emotion.
"We thought that only coal could be turned into electricity, but what about now? Water, which seems to have no use, can be turned into electricity... I think we need to go to Ming Dynasty!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
